WO1994001009A1

WO1994001009A1 - Zipper necktie

Info

Publication number: WO1994001009A1
Application number: PCT/US1992/005929
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Lee Kahler
Original assignee: Robert Lee Kahler
Priority date: 1992-07-13
Filing date: 1992-07-13
Publication date: 1994-01-20
Also published as: AU2466692A

Abstract

An improved zipper/knot holder (10) combination for reducing loosening of the tie during use combines the proximity of the inner surface of the rear of the holder (10) and either one or both of projections (21) on and a slot (25) in the inner front surface of the knot holder (10) to fix the position of the zipper slide (23) substantially vertically within the holder (10). The slide used has an auto-locking mechanism which requires a substantial force, e.g., two pounds, to change the position of the zipper slide (23) relative to the zipper (16).

Description

: ZIPPER NECKTIE

2

3 Zipper ties have been known for decades and a variety of approaches

4 have been used in their design. Basically, the ties are made of three parts:

5 an outer visible part, an inner hidden part, and a knot. The inner part has a

6 loop with the halves of a zipper sewn along the inner edges of the ends of the

7 loop. The ends of the loop then are sewn to a "tail" to approximate the inner

8 portion of the usual, nonzipper tie in appearance. The knot is wrapped

9 around a knot holder which is usually attached to the zipper slide and visible o part. 1 The designer of better zipper ties must consider several problems, e.g., 2 fabric wear and tear and loosening and tightening of the knot during wear. 3 Fabric wear is inherent in the tying and use of any tie but can be increased when the fabric rubs against the edges of a plastic or metal knot support. 5 Knot aesthetics require that the knot shape follow sartorial trends and not 6 display normally hidden portions of the fabric wound around a knot support. Manufacturing economies are a primary consideration in zipper tie 8 design. Third worid manufacturers have a built-in economic advantage due 9 to their lower labor costs. Therefore, new designs must include new, more 0 easily molded and economical components to reduce costs to the extent 1 possible. Those skilled in the art have used many approaches to the solution of 3 most of these problems. The art, however, is so contradictory regarding the 4 best approaches to a commercial design for solving all or even most of the 5 cited problems that it is essentially useless as a teaching tool or a guide to β better design. When approached on an element-by-element basis, the art 7 teaches that: 8 The knot can have a flexible knot holder, e.g., made of cloth (U.S. 9 3,127,618 to I.W. Roach), semi-rigid plastic or metal (U.S. 4,565,672 to M. i LANDE (U.S. 3,898,698 to D.J. Byrd et αl). The knot holder shape can be a half

2 shell trapezoid with flat upper and lower surfaces (U.S. 3,898,698), a half shell

3 having a wide concave upper lip with a very shallow "S" curve to a narrow bottom (U.S. 3,942,192 to D.F. Harris), an oval topped full shell holder with sides

5 rounding to a more narrow bottom and a depending base on its front surface

6 (U.S. 4,513,453 to J. Chen et al), a concave convex, straight sided of full shell

7 with a depending base on its front surface (U.S. 4,656,672), a full shell holder

8 with rounded sides leading to a high point at the midpoint of the rear (U.S.

9 4,710,982 to M. LANDE) and a concavo-convex full shell holder with a i o concave upper front surface and an even deeper concavity in its upper rear ii surface combined with a flat rear bottom edge and a depending base on

12 the front (U.S. commercial tie by World Tie, Inc. of Englewood, CO., U.S.A. and

13 a Chinese commercial tie. Another tie manufactured by World Tie of Denver,

14 CO, U.S.A. has a knot holder modeled on the Chinese knot holder but the

15 rear concave surface is in substantial contact with the zipper slide and the

16 zipper has no auto locking mechanism.

17 The zipper slide pull tab is attached to the knot holder in just as random

18 a manner. Thus, the zipper slide pull tab is pivotally attached to the inner

19 back surface (U.S. 3,127,618), rigidly mounted in a socket on the rear inner

20 surface of a knot holder (U.S. 3,8998,698), mounted rigidly in a bracket on the

21 front surface of a holder (U.S. 3,942,192) and rotationally mounted on the 2 inner surface of a depending base (U.S. 4,513,453). Sometimes the zipper 3 slide is even unattached (U.S. 4,710,672) or rigidly nests in a depression and 4 has no pull tab (U.S. 4,656,672). 5 To control loosening of the tie during use, "m" shaped clamps (U.S. 6 4,513,453) or foam stoppers (U.S. 4,656,672) are inserted into the holder. 7 Velcro brand type fasteners (U.S. 4,910,982) are also used. Zipper slides also 8 differ markedly. Thus, standard zipper slides, zipper slides with a hook on one 9 side and a locking mechanism on the other, and zipper slides with an auto i locking mechanism are used. An auto locking mechanism is a mechanism

2 which increases substantially the force required to move a slide along a

3 zipper when compared to the force required to move the standard slide

4 along the standard zipper (U.S. 4,835,794 to Chen et ai, (U.S. 4,656,671 and

5 the previously mentioned Chinese tie) holder.

6 The zipper neckties of this invention are simple, inexpensive, flexible and

7 operate well with minimal wear, thereby overcoming the problems of the

8 prior art and the problem of economics.

9 10 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ii A zipper necktie includes a zipper with an auto locking slide with a

12 predetermined pull requirement for moving the slide along the zipper and a

13 semi-rigid to rigid, concavo-convex, full shell knot holder which is substantially

14 wider and deeper at the top than at the bottom and has a depending base

15 centered on its front bottom surface. The knot holder upper surfaces are flat lβ at and proximate to each end and have a centered concavity. The front

17 inner surface has a vertical mechanism , i.e. , a slot, and/or parallel projections

18 which combine with knot holder back to front dimensions to maintain the

19 zipper slide in a vertical alignment when the tie is being worn.

20

21 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 2 Figure 1 is a cutaway view of a portion of a zipper tie and its 23 relationship to an embodiment of the new knot holder. 4 Figure 2 is a top view of the embodiment of Figure 1. 5 Figure 3 is a cutaway view of one embodiment of a holder in a vertical 6 position with projections uti.ized to stabilize the position of a zipper slide within 7 the holder. 8 Figure 4 is a side view of a knot holder and the other components of a 9 tie. i Figure 5 is α cutaway showing another embodiment of the zipper slide

2 alignment stabilizers.

3 Figure 6 is a front view of an embodiment of the components.

4 Figure 7 depicts a zipper slide alignment mechanism utilizing sloped

5 external sides and a slot.

6 Figures 8 and 9 show details of the Chinese knot holder.

7

8 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

9 The figures all utilize the same number designations for the same o elements. However, modifications, are designated by alphabetic additions to 1 the numeric designations. 2 Figure 1 is a perspective view of portions of a "zipper tie' made up of a 3 polypropylene knot holder 10 with a centered concavity 1 1 in its upper 4 surface and a depending base 12 to which the outer, wider and larger 5 portion 13 of a tie is attached by pop rivet 14. The normally hidden or rear 6 portion of a tie 15 has a portion which is divided longitudinally by a zipper 16. 7 The zipper has been opened below point 17 by a slide (not shown). Tie 8 portion 13 is folded around the gently tapered depending base 12 to form a 9 tie having the appearance of having been tied in a Windsor knot. 0 Figure 2 depicts base 10 from its upper end showing its lower edge 18, 1 the upper sharply reverse tapered attachment section 19 of depending base 12 with a centered recess 20. Two triangular projections 21 are attached to the attachment section 19 to position a zipper so that it can deviate no more than about 5% from the vertical laterally, i.e. , to the left or right. Figure 3 depicts a tie holder 10 having a truncated triangle form which 6 differs from that of Figure 2 in that projections 21 a extend downwardly on the face of tapered base 12. A hole 22 in depending base 12 receives a pop rivet. i Figure 4 is α side view depicting the relationship between tie portions 13

2 and 15 and tie holder 10. Tie portion 13 and zipper slide 23 are attached to

3 tapered base 12 by a pop rivet 14.

4 Figure 5 depicts a portion of an inner surface of a depending base 12a

5 with no front to back tape; and rounded projections 21b for alignment of a

6 zipper slide and tie within a holder. Projections 21 a combine with the minimal

7 spacing (shown in Figure 4) to prevent, respectively, side to side and front to

8 back movement of the slide. The rivet 14 attaching the slide pull tab 23 to the

9 depending base 12 anchors the slide 23 in the vertical plane. o Figure 6 is a front view of an embodiment similar to that of Figure 1 i showing the relationships for aligning the hidden tie portion 15 and a zipper 2 slide within knot holder 10 as indicated in Figure 4 but utilizing rounded 3 projections 21 b of Figure 5. 4 Figure 7 shows a different form of tie knot holder 11 b where the zipper 5 slide positioning is obtained by a vertical slot 25 having an elevated and 6 lateral edges 26 tapered laterally to a low point at the base 27 of the lateral 7 aligners 28. 8 Figure 8 depicts a previously mentioned commercial knot holder 31 of 9 Chinese design. It has a concave upper front edge 32 with an even deeper o concave back edge 33. It ιas a front depending base 34 and a hole 35 for a 1 rivet. It also has external vertical stiffeners 36 and minute projections 37 which 2 serve to roughen its surface and to stabilize the position of the tie fabric 3 covering the knot holder 31. 4 Figure 9 is a top view of the embodiment of Figure 8 additionally 5 showing an outlined zipper slide 38 being held in place by rivet 39. Although 6 not apparent from the drawing, there is a substantial space between the rear 7 wall of holder 31 and zipper slide 38, the tab of which is free to pivot about 8 rivet 39. 9 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The tie components are those used artistically and commercially and have the shape, colors, and designs in vogue. The knot holders will completely encircle the zipper and slide components in a full, rigid or semi- rigid knot holder made of metal or plastic. The knot holder front to back dimensional depth is predetermined by the thickness of the zipper slide. The depth of the rear concavity should be sufficient to prevent substantial forward or backward motion of the zipper slide within the knot holder. The permitted motion is less than the height of the zipper slide retaining projections, the depth of the zipper slide retaining slot or the height and depth of both. The distance between and shape of the zipper slide retaining projections and/or slot walls will be determined by the width and shape of the zipper slide. Preferably, the inner rear surface of the holder will be in contact with the rear of the zipper. In most instances, the projections and slot walls will be substantially straight, vertical and parallel, but can diverge upwardly or downwardly. They will be spaced apart sufficiently to permit easy ir isertion of the zipper slide but insufficiently to allow substantial deviation from a vertical position within the holder. The top to bottom depth, side top or angles and end depth or curvature will vary, to some extent, with changing sartorial trends. The top and bottom edges are preferably rounded and the walls flat but can include minor ridges, depressions, protuberances, etc., and can include artifacts arising from mold design and manufacturing processing requirements. The lateral flat surfaces at the sides of the upper surface of the knot holders will make up to 50% of the total width of the knot holder and the depth of the concavity in the upper front surface will be about 15-25% and preferably about 20%. The zipper slides utilised with the ties of this invention have automatic locking sliders which provide a positive locking action on the zipper chain 1 when pulled. The automatic lock slider mechanism may be no more than a

2 projection, integral with an inner surface of the slide, which contacts the slide

3 to substantially increase the friction between the two. The mechanisms can

4 also be spring loaded projections or camming devices designed to

5 accomplish the same purpose.

6 The camming device actuator or lever can be actuated through an

7 opening in the rear of the knot holder or with a rod projecting through the

8 bottom of the knot holder. Talon, Inc. of Meadville, PA, U.S.A. manufactures

9 the preferred spring loaded, auto locking slides which require a two pound

I o push or pull to change the position of the slide relative to the zipper.

I I The body of the knot holder preferably attaches to a gently tapering

12 depending base via a reversed sharply tapered zone. The gently tapering

13 base can have a taper up to 10 degrees while the sharp reverse taper is on

14 the order of 10 degrees to 25 degrees and preferably on the order of 15

15 degrees to about 20 degrees.

16 The slide pull tab can be attached to the depending base by a screw,

17 rivet or other means. Preferably a pop rivet is used.

18

Claims

THE CLAIMS Claim 1 : In a zipper tie includi; ig a knot holder and zipper slide combination, the improvement comprising a knot holder wherein the front to rear inner dimension of the body of the knot holder and at least one of projections from and a vertical slot in the f.ont inner surface of the body of the knot holder substantially fix the position of a zipper slide with a tab attached to a depending base in a substantially vertical position within the knot holder. Claim 2: In the zipper tie of Claim 1 , the knot holder having a concavity substantially centered in its front and rear upper surfaces. Claim 3: In the zipper tie of Claim 1 wherein the depending base is gently tapered up to 10 degrees. Claim 4: In the zipper tie of Ciaim 3 wherein the at least one of the projections and a vertical slot extend inwardly from at least one of the body of the knot holder, the attachment sec tion and the depending base. Claim 5: The zipper tie of Cl:'im 1 further having an attachment section joining the depending base to the knot holder. Claim 6: The zipper tie of Cla^;m 5 wherein the attachment section has a sharp reverse taper of from 10 da ^rees to about 25 degrees. Claim 7: The zipper tie of Claim 6 wherein the sharply reversed taper is from about 15 degrees to about 20 degrees. Claim 8: The zipper tie of Claim 1 wherein the zipper tie further includes an autolocking device. Claim 9: The zipper tie of Claim 5 wherein the attachment section has a substantially centered recess. Claim 10 In a zipper tie including a knot holder and zipper slide combination, the improvement comprising: a) a zipper slide including an autolocking mechanism and b) a full shell knot holder having a truncated triangle form and a concave-convex back to front configuration with rounded ends, upper front and rear surfaces which are substantially flat proximate to and at the ends and are concave intermediate the flat surfaces, a substantially fiat bottom surface with a depending base centered on and depending from the front bottom surface of the knot holder, the inner surface of the depending base being attached to the zipper slide tab and the front to back inner depth of the knot holder and at least one of projections from and a slot in the inner surface of the knot holder combining to position the zipper slide in a substantially vertical position.